Wim van Herk, PhD

My research investigated the learning and foraging behaviours of wireworms (Elaterid larvae), and was conducted at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre (Agassiz) under co-supervision of Dr. R.S. Vernon. I focused on how wireworms (Agriotes obscurus and Limonius canus) find food and how they respond to encountering unacceptable host plants or noxious chemicals (e.g. insecticides). In addition, I studied the effectiveness of novel insecticides on several wireworm species, and described the various behaviours these chemicals elicit. My thesis, entitled "Wireworm behaviour in response to insecticides," is available at the SFU library; individual chapters were published as journal articles. I am currently continuing my research at the Vernon lab.